Ella has a bully at school.
And she’s only 3½.
At first, I thought they were just really good friends and that this other girl just played a little harder than Ella.
But now that Ella is talking more… I’m starting to get a clearer picture of what’s actually going on.
We even had them invited over to swim next week.
I’ll probably be texting the dad to cancel that.
Ella is incredibly smart. She can name four or five different dinosaurs, and her teachers say she’s the best puzzler in her class.
But for some reason… she keeps pooping her pants because she thinks it’s funny.
So I started asking more questions.
I asked if her friends still do that.
She said no—she’s the only one.
And after a little back and forth… I found out where the idea came from.
Her “friend” told her to do it.
Now I’m trying to figure out how to handle this—not just this situation, but things like this moving forward.
Where someone is clearly influencing her in a way that isn’t great… but she doesn’t fully understand it yet.
The best idea I’ve come up with so far is simple:
If a friend tells her to do something, she can ask them to do it first.
And if they won’t…
That’s probably a good sign she shouldn’t be doing it either.
Still… it’s a little tough trying to explain the difference between someone laughing with you and someone laughing at you to a 3-year-old.
I thought about turning this into a fitness lesson…
But if you’re a parent and reading this…what’s your take?
Still Letting the Wrong Voice Make the Decision?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most adults over 50 don’t fail because they’re lazy.
They fail because they keep listening to the wrong advice, from the wrong people, built for the wrong body.
If you’re tired of guessing, getting hurt, starting over, and wondering whether strength training is still “for you,” then stop gambling with your body.
Get a real plan. Get coached. Get stronger.
Start My Stronger After 50 Plan
Not Ready to Do Anything Paid Yet?
Good. Don’t rush. Read these first. They’ll help you think clearer before you make your next move.
“The trainers at Stowe Training Systems are knowledgable, patient, and encourage you to improve yourself.”
Glenna Weatherly 5- Star Google Review
Written by Nate Stowe, NASM-CPT, NCSF-CPT, CES, TRX Certified
Nate Stowe is a personal trainer and movement specialist based in Austin, Texas, with over 16 years of experience helping adults over 50 move better, get stronger, and live pain-free. He’s the founder of Stowe Personal Training, creator of the GET STRONGER LIVE LONGER Program, and author of Revitalize at 50+, a best-selling book on strength, longevity, and reclaiming your body after middle age.
Over the past two decades, Nate’s training system has helped hundreds of everyday adults avoid surgery, reduce chronic pain, and get back to doing the things they love—without needing a medical degree or spending hours in the gym.
Don’t worry—he saves the third-person talk for bios, not your training sessions. Sixteen years in, he’s still awkward when writing about himself.
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